December 2007 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

5400B Rotor problem Help
by Bill Bruno 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Thanks to all for the emails responding to my question. I think my problem might be in one of the four wires that make up the instrumentation circuit. Does anyone know what voltages I should be reading on these at specific headings?

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Re: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful
by Robert Turlington 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Its sounds a bit different here in the UK ordinarily you can apply for a special call 3or4 weeks before the event, its only when the call required falls outside of the norm i.e. 50 instead of 5 for example. It maybe that Amsat UK could get a permanent call sign but they are few and far between in the UK.Regards Robert G8ATE > Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:23:34 -0800> To: rob_g8ate(a)hotmail.com> From: dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> Subject: RE: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful> CC: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > >Thanks for that Dave> >Unfortunately due to illness(heavy cold/sore throat etc) over the > >last week operation was limited to a few dozen contacts on AO27 and > >SO50 plus some JA's on AO51 via Echolink.However all contacts were > >enthusiastic to work GB0OO and therefore I intend to make it a > >regular event on the 12/13th Dec.Perhaps next year Dave you could > >obtain a special US call sign from your licensing authorities ,if > >that at all possible.> > One contact meets the challenge!!!> > I fully intend to investigate a US callsign for next year, and > perpetuity if perpetuity is possible....> > And I hope all other AMSATS duplicate the effort.> > If anyone reading this could assist me in the procedure to get a > special callsign, I would appreciate the help.> > My intentions are to contact the FCC early enough to get through the > red tape probably needed....> > Some of our California politicians are pretty powerfull!!> > > > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO> dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> > Disagree: I learn....> > Pulling for P3E... > _________________________________________________________________ Free games, great prizes - get gaming at Gamesbox. http://www.searchgamesbox.com

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Re: ANDE warming, Telemetry and Re-entry
by Henk, PA3GUO 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Hi Jim, I am using a TS2000 as well, 6 elements DK7ZB, 14 meter AIRCELL7, no preamp. For doppler I apply 3 mem channels, compensating 2 khz (so rx 145.827/825/823) and tx 145.823/825/827). So: your set up should work. Keep trying, sometimes the next pass is 'better'. See here for the example: the 50 degrees pass was better as the 78 degrees elevation. http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (see the Dec 16 log) Do prior to each pass an update of the keppler sets NOVA: Keppler > Internet update > update now (or something like that) Keep trying ! Henk http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo Jim, ZL1TYF wrote: --------------------- I've just now, 17th Dec 2007 10:22 UTC, attempted to copy ANDE as it goes over for maybe one of the last times for this location. It was an almost perfect pass here in Wellington, New Zealand, with a maximum elevation of about 78 degrees per Nova, using keps from Space-Track that are about 13 hours old. I was late getting set up, so it took some time to get the TNC within my rig (Kenwood TS-2000) set up, and remembering how to set the UNPROTO path (*1). Anyway, on sending a few "Hi" and "Hello" prompts (*2), I did hear ANDE digirepeat me, and maybe some extra packets too. Sadly, the signal was very noisy, and I got no valid decodes at any time. So no telemetry, which I had hoped to get.

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Give it a try !
by Henk, PA3GUO 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

when you read this message today (Dec 18) ... ... good news ! there is still a few days to make your APRS QSO via ANDE ! TNC: U APRS VIA ARISS Radio: 145.825 MHz up/down Success ! Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (my own 'ANDE logbook')

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Project Oscar Anniversary
by Dave Guimont 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

I am overwhelmed by my proposal to initiate some special days to celebrate and Oscar 1 anniversary. Rob's idea to do it over a five day period is very thoughtful, with LEO's... And specially pleased that some of the responses came from (as indicated by the callsigns) younger amateurs. I thank you one and all, again... We have almost a year left before the next event, I will attempt to formulate the procedure. Get opinions from anyone who wishes to contribute, and keep all informed... This is a busy season for all, so hang in there, guys, and I will do my best to initiate for AMSAT-NA. I will attempt the formulation, but need all of your help... Again I thank Rob, G8ATE, for doing it this year, and hope world-wide AMSAT's initiate the same procedures. If we had a HEO we could respond to one callsign, but let us assume that by next year we will be lucky enough to have some of the LEO's we have now. I am fully aware that digital procedures would permit worldwide coverage, but in the spirit of the "early birds" I think ssb or fm voice, or cw would be most appropriate... Let me know next year! I intend to put it mostly to bed for the remainder of 2007, this household is pretty busy until 2jan08!! 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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One satellite or many? EmComm
by Bob Bruninga 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

I am 100% in support of P4. So this message is not related to that topic... But I am excited about this Emergency Communications mission that AMSAT-NA is investigating as a means of ensuring our long term relevance. Emergency Preparednes and communications to me has always been a prime motivator in Ham radio. That said (and without any intent to distract from P4), my vision has beem to promote a low rate LEO satellite emergency message capability that anyone can hit using just what they already have. IE, packet messages on the satellite frequency of 145.825. We have been trying to gather together a constellation of as many LEO satellits as we can get (up to 10 or so), all acting as digipeaters on 145.825 so that we have nearly continuous coverage everywhere. Meaning, at any time, anywhere, if an emergency pops up, then 145.825 can be used to get a message out. Now this has nothing to do with P4, Because P4 will have much higher capacity, more bandwith, higher rates, higher frequencies and 24/7 coverage. But the 145.825 channel can still be a small backchannel of support. In fact, we have been encouraging all AMSAT members no matter what their operational preferences, to at least verify their ability to send a single-line-email once every month or so to validate their ability to use this channel. See he web page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/sset.html The reason I brought up this topic now, is because of the SUBJECT line of this thread. "One Satellite or Many". And I whole-hartedly support AMSAT's energies toward P4. But the purpose of this message is not towards AMSAT, but to solicit all those universities and non-AMSAT entities that are also building satellites to consider this 145.825 mission. Beacuse almsot all such LEO satellites need a command system. Most will use AX.25, so why not make your command system double as this emergency message channel in support of 1200 baud messaging? We have had all of these satellites on 145.825, all capable of AX.25 message relay: SUNSAT PCSAT-1 PCSAT2, ANDE RAFT ARISS PUHENSAT etc.. and Others in work.. But we have never had more than 2 or at most 3 operational at the same time. If most of these cubesats and university sats that use AX.25 allowed digipeating on 145.825, then we would have a fantastic constellation of nearly continuous coverage of 145.825. Just four such satellites could give us an average acccess wait time of uner an hour. Approaching ten of them could average almost continuous coverage with only 5 minutes or so wait times. A cubest can easily support this mission, since the TX is only one for less than 4% of the time even during normal use. This is A great Emergency Message Capability that anoyone with a mobile APRS rig could hit from anywhere at any time or without no more than say a 30 minute wait for a pass. We should encourage all those cubesat schools to consider this secondary mission for their TX/RX command system. Again, not wanting to detract from the P4 dialog, but we should endorse this new P4 Emergency Communications initiative of AMSAT and look for ways to make it a reality. FLying 145.825 digipeaters on everything that files in LEO is one supportive way to add some EmCom back-channel capability while not detracting any energy from P4. If you haven't sent your emergency email test message, dust off that old TNC and give it a go... Bob, Wb4APR

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Rig Blaster P-N-P is Sold........
by John Henderson 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Went very quickly, thanks for the interest. John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:[email protected]> n4nab(a)amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/

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Re: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful
by Robert Turlington 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Thanks for that Dave Unfortunately due to illness(heavy cold/sore throat etc) over the last week operation was limited to a few dozen contacts on AO27 and SO50 plus some JA's on AO51 via Echolink.However all contacts were enthusiastic to work GB0OO and therefore I intend to make it a regular event on the 12/13th Dec.Perhaps next year Dave you could obtain a special US call sign from your licensing authorities ,if that at all possible. Regards Robert G8ATE > Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:57:46 -0800> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> From: dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> Subject: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful> CC: rob_g8ate(a)hotmail.com> > > Congratulations are in order for G8ATE's (Rob) thoughtful origination > of GB ZERO OSCAR ONE (GB0O1).> > Marty Davidoff's THE SATELLITE EXPERIMENTERS MANUAL preserved it for > posterity....And I would like to see Rob's> efforts celebrating it repeated annually by ALL AMSATS worldwide.> > I quote from Marty's first edition:> > "And so, on December 12,1961, at 2042 GMT, Discover XXXVI was > launched into orbit, carrying into separate orbit OSCAR 1 guided in > its flight into history by the thoughts and prayers of thousands of > radio amateurs who stand on the threshold of tomorrow."> > It sent a simple "hi hi", and the speed of transmission gave an > indication of its temperature.> > CERTAINLY AN EVENT WORTH CELEBRATING ANNUALY...> > During the five day event I was fortunate to make contacts (ssb, FM > and cw) on AO7, VO52, VO50 and AO51, and mentioned the GB0O1 callsign > on them all, my only option in San Diego, limited by LEO's.> A digital carry over did not seem to constitute a CONTACT;> my old fingers make it difficult for me to "talk" with them!> > Tnx agn to Rob, to the other GB'ers who assisted, and to my respondents...> > A high spot in my 71 year interest in ham radio. I ("bootlegged") > on cw in 1937.> > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO> dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> > Disagree: I learn....> > Pulling for P3E... > _________________________________________________________________ Telly addicts unite! http://www.searchgamesbox.com/tvtown.shtml

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Rig Blaster Gear for Sale
by John Henderson 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

I have for sale the Rig Blaster Plug & Play Unit complete with CD , Icom data ( Din Plug) cable and the CIV rig control cable. The unit is about $109 w/o the cable adapter from West Mountain Radio... http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/StoreConfigs/pnp.htm The rig is compatible with the 820H , the 821H and the 910H sats, and 746 Pro, 746Pro II and III and other listed on the above link. It came with a Sat Radio I recently purchased and I don't plan to use it. Will sale and ship CONUS for $55. John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:[email protected]> n4nab(a)amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/

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5400B Rotor problem Help
by Bill Bruno 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

I could use some trouble shooting tips for my rotor. The azimuth part tho mechanically still rotates through 360 degrees the indication both on the control box and my computer only shows 180 deg travel. The indicator moves continously while the rotor is moving but at only half the speed it normally travels showing only 180 deg swing for 360 on the rotor. Since i get the same reading on both my pc and the control box I assume the problem is either in the rotor or the wireing from the rotor. I could use some suggestions. Bill KB2RC

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